Cade Stover

Career StatsD+

Year	Team	GP	Rec	Yards	TD
Career		24	27	209	1
2025		9	12	76	0
2024		15	15	133	1

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Earning a C- Contract Value Index, Cade Stover's 4-year pact reflects how Houston valued the position market at the tight end depth level, securing a developmental prospect on a rookie scale deal worth $1.19M AAV. Through nine games in the 2025 season, Stover accumulated 76 receiving yards with minimal impact on the stat sheet, a production profile that aligns squarely with his D+ performance grade and reinforces his classification as a depth piece rather than a featured weapon. At $1.19M annually, he's positioned exactly where you'd expect a fourth-round pick to land contractually—low-risk, low-cost depth that allows Houston flexibility to allocate capital elsewhere on the roster. Now in his second year at age 26, Stover remains firmly in developmental territory, and the recent Houston transactions (offensive line signings, receiver additions, linebacker acquisitions) suggest the organization is prioritizing position group depth over relying on him as a breakout contributor. His C+ sentiment grade and media framing center on character and toughness—notably his grit playing through injury during the playoff run—rather than statistical growth, positioning him squarely on the roster bubble heading into 2026 where preseason performance will determine whether he graduates from developmental project to reliable contributor. The four-year structure carries minimal dead-cap risk and allows the Texans to part ways without cap consequence if production doesn't materialize, making this a sensible floor-price gamble on a young player with organizational credibility but unproven on-field consistency.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Cade's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Stacked against the TE field, Cade Stover grades out at a D+ performance level for Houston. His 2025 season production—76 receiving yards across 9 games—reflects a tight end operating well below meaningful offensive contribution thresholds, a depth-piece trajectory that aligns with his fourth-round pedigree and rookie-scale contract structure. The most productive metric in his profile is actually his willingness: playing through a broken foot during the Texans' playoff push earned genuine organizational credibility and demonstrated the toughness that made him an appealing developmental pick, even if the stat sheet doesn't yet validate that investment. The core weakness is obvious—27 career receptions through two seasons speaks to minimal receiving upside and a role almost entirely dependent on blocking utility and special-teams snaps rather than pass-game involvement. As a second-year player on the roster bubble heading into 2026, Stover's path forward hinges entirely on whether training camp and preseason competition can prove he's evolved beyond a high-character reserve; right now, his narrative remains anchored in character more than production, and the broader media landscape views him as a depth contributor whose spot depends on organizational need rather than on-field impact.

How Cade Compares at the Position

Cade Stover ranks 122nd of 164 graded tight ends by performance. That slots Cade between Josiah Deguara (D+) just ahead and Hunter Long (D+) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Cade Stover carries a C+ sentiment grade heading into 2026, reflecting a player caught between developmental potential and roster uncertainty. The Houston tight end has earned genuine respect for his toughness—playing through a broken foot during the Texans' playoff run showcased the grit that initially made him appealing as a draft pick. However, with just 27 career receptions and a minimum-level contract, the broader NFL media views Stover primarily as a depth piece rather than a meaningful offensive weapon. His narrative remains anchored more in character traits than statistical production, creating a perception of a high-effort role player whose roster spot depends heavily on blocking utility and special-teams contributions. While his credibility within the Houston organization appears solid, Stover sits firmly on the roster bubble where preseason performance will determine whether he can shift from developmental project to reliable contributor in Year 3.